Apparatus for tensioning an arm



July 18, 1950 R. c. CHAFFIN 2,515,590

APPARATUS FOR TENSIONING AN ARM Filed March 25, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l Anne/vex R. c. CHAFFIN 2,515,590

APPARATUS FOR TENSIONING AN ARM July 18, 1950 Filed March 25, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII i 5 .90 R .97 11v VEN TOR. g7 RAPE C CHAFF/N,

Arrow/Ex Patented July 18, 1950 OFFICE -.2 ,5l5,590 APPARATUS FOR TENSIONING AN ARM Rafe C.= Chafiin, LosAngeles, Calif.

Application March25, 1946,Serial No. 656,996 -.6 Claims. (01. 1128-84") This invention has to *do with apparatus for tensioning an arm, it being ageneral objectiof the invention to provide apparatus to effectively tension parts of a human arm and more specifically theforearm or parts in the region of the forearm.

In the case of fractures occurring in the forearm or in the region-of the fore-arm and in the case of certain other injuries or disturbances at this part or region of the body it becomes necessary or desirable to apply tension between the elbow and the hand or, in other words, in the fore-arm. The most common example --of such a situation is where a complete break or fracture necessitates the application of considerable tensile stress to the forearm in order to bring the fractured parts in proper alignment for setting.

*In accordance with the method ordinarily followed in such a situation the upper arm is held by any improvised meansanda hold is taken on apparatus of the general characterhereinaibove referred to which involves few simple easilyoperated parts which combine to provide an ad justable device that will accommodate hands of various sizes and shapes. The apparatus that I have provided is quickly adjustable to various widths so that it will effectively accommodate a wide variation in hands.

.It is another objectiof my invention to provide apparatus of the general character referred 'to wherein there is a grip applicable to :the hand or the wrist and hand which grip involves zaiflat hand plate combined with a strap ;so thatthe hand plate supports the hand fiat and parallel with the forearm when strain or tension is :applied through the strap. 7

. Another object of my invention is to ,;provide apparatus .of the general character hereinabove referred to which is not only readily adjustable .to accommodate handsof various sizes but which 2 which is such that there is little or nopossibility of the apparatus being mis-used or mis-applied.

The various objects and features .of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made :to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. :1 is a view illustrating the manner :in which theapparatus that I have provided is used to :tensicn a forearm. Fig. 2 isan enlarged side e'levat'icnof a part-of the anchor element of :the apparatus. Fig. 3 is :a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. '2, being a view taken as indicated by li-ne ii- 3 oniFig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the grip element of the apparatus. Fig. '5 is a top plan view of the part shown in'F-ig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional viewrtakenas indicated byline 6- 6 on Fig. Fig. '57 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a modified form of the invention. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of thestructure shown inFig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line :9-9 .on Fig. '7. Fig. 10 is a detailed sectional view taken as :indicatedby iine ill-10 on Fig. 7. Fig. :11 :is .an enlarged sectional View as taken by line Iii-H on Fig. '7. Fig. 12 is a detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line LL-I 2 .on Fig. 1 1. Fig. .13 is a plan View of part .of thedevice shovinin'Fig. 1,-and 14 is a side elevation of the mechanismshown inFig. 13.

The apparatus thatI have provided includes .oriinvolvesgenerally, three units or elements, one of which "I -will term the anchor element A, another I will :term the grip element B and the "other I will term a :tensioning means "0. The anchor :element A is adapted to be applied'to the 11113-1381 arm-101' sarrn proper adjacent the elbow to hold it back or against forward movement when the apparatus is being used, while the grip 'B is applied to :the hand, or :hand and wrist preferzably,rwhile:the iorearmisiina forward or horizon- :tal position, substantially .as shown in Fig. 1 =.of the drawings. The tensioningim'eans C connects to the 3 grip and is operable to apply tension or itractionfso ithat tensile iStIfiilIl is set up in the dorea-rm or in :the region thereof.

The-anchor element A that I have provided-in- HOLVfiS, generally, .a hearing plate ill, a fastening device =-i.i,.and a strapld-connecting the plate and iastening device. In practice .I .prefer to make the anchor zelementA simple and. free of complicated parts or constructions, and I prefer to proportion itgso that it will accommodate most is also very quickly applicable to ca .handgaa-nd do any upper arm.

The bearing plate I may be formed of a metal plate which in the blank or initial form is substantially round and which is bent laterally of its plane so that it is substantially U-shaped and has a round forward portion I3 to bear against the forward side of the upper arm and has rearwardly projecting spaced flanges or side parts I4 to extend rearwardly at the inner and outer sides of the arm. In practice it is desirable to curve or deflect the lower portion of the part I3 as at I3 so that it curves forward to have comfortable bearing on the arm immediately adjacent the elbow.

The fastening device may be any suitable part, mechanism or device by which the element A is secured as to a fixed support or the like. In the drawings I have shown a simple ring forming the fastening device II, which ring can be applied to a hook or the like or can be tied by any suitable member to the desired support.

The strap I2 is preferably a flexible strap or belt either of fabric or leather or like material, and in the preferred form of the invention it has spaced side parts I5 which extends rearward from the rearwardly extending sides I4 of the together and to the ring I I in any suitable mana ner.

The grip B involves, generally, a hand plate on which the hand bears, and a retaining means H in connection with the hand plate for retaining the hand on the plate, and a strap 23 conmeeting the means C and the plate and having a portion to engage the hand or wrist to retain on the plate.

The hand plate that I have provided may be varied considerably in form and construction and, essentially, it involves an elongate fiat plate with a wide center portion 25 to support the wide part of the hand, a narrow forward portion 26 to support the fingers and thumb, and a narrow rear portion 21 to support the wrist or the forward end portion of the forearm.

- I may make the hand plate adjustable and to .do this I make it sectional or, in other words, I divide it longitudinally so that it involves two overlapping sections X and Y. The sections X and Y are preferably formed of sheet metal or the like and their inner or adjacent edge portions overlap in the manner clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.

When the hand plate is made sectional as I have just described I guide the sections relative to each other so that they can be moved in and out to vary the width of the hand plate. The particular guide means that I have shown in the drawings involves spaced guide rods 30 on one of the plates slidably fitting guide blocks 3| on the other plate. In the particular case illustrated I have shown two guide rods spaced below the two plate sections and extending transversely of the hand plate. Each rod is rigidly supported in connection with one of the plates by a post 32 secured to the plate section by welding or the like. The blocks 2| that guide the rods 30 are made fast to the other plate section and have bores or openings 33 that slidably carry the rods.

In accordance with the preferred form of my invention I provide means 35 for locking the sections of the hand plate in the desired adjusted position. The particular means illustrated involves a grip ring 36 surrounding each rod 3|! and each grip ring is carried by a support or carriage 31 so that it can be tilted into gripping engagement with the rod that it surrounds by means of a spring 38 surrounding the rod. The grip rings 36 are tilted in a direction so that the sections X and Y of the hand plate can be readily separated or pulled apart and they serve to grip the rods and lock them so that they prevent the plate sections being moved together.

When the structure is provided with a lock means such as I have described I preferably include in the construction means operable to release the locks or lock means. In the case illustrated in the drawings I provide a cam 50 at each lock ring and I support the cams by means of a tie rod 5| which can be shifted so that the cams engage the lock rings and tilt them against the action of the springs 38. The rod 5I' extends lengthwise 0f the hand plate and is guided for reciprocation lengthwise of the hand plate in suitable guide brackets 52. In practice I can operate the cams or the rod 5| carrying the cams in any suitable manner. In the particular case illustrated I operate the rod 5i by means of a bell crank which has one arm 55 arranged to form a lever that can be conveniently depressed by the operator and the other arm 56 engaged through an opening provided in an extension 57 of the rod 5|. The bell crank is carried on a pivotal support 58 and is preferably located at the under side of the hand plate and adjacent one end thereof, for instance, near the inner end thereof, as shown in the drawings.

With the construction just described the springs 38 acting on the grip rings normally hold the mechanism in position so that the rods 30 are gripped whenever there is a tendency to move them into the openings 33 but the rods are always free to be withdrawn to widen the hand plate. When it is desired to collapse the hand plate or move the sections thereof in so that the hand plate is made narrower it is merely necessary for the operator to depress the hand lever 55 which causes movement of the rod 5| so that the cams 5n tilt the grip rings 36 against the resistance of the springs 38, freeing the rods 30 so that they can be moved at will.

The retaining means 2i provided to retain the forward portion of the hand is carried by the hand plate to hold the forward or finger portion of the hand flat on the plate. The means 2| preferably involves a strap secured to the edge portions of the two plate sections X and Y so that it extends or loops over the hand plate. In the preferred form of the invention as shown in the drawings the strap involves two sections 60 and BI joined by an adjusting means or buckle 62 so that it can be tightened in the desired manner over the hand. The strap sections 60 and 6| are secured to suitable brackets 63 at opposite edges of the hand plate. In practice the strap sections 60 and 6| can be made fast to the brackets 63 as shown in the drawings. I preferably locate the strap construction just described lengthwise of the hand plate so that it extends across the back of the hand at or near the fingers so that the fingers of the hand are effectively retained fiat on the plate.

The strap 23 of the grip element B has a loop portion 10 that extends transversely across the amazon rear aportioniof the hand plateandhas .si'd'e Lpor tions If that extend forward from the 1009131)!- tion to he guided by the handplateiand to :finally connect to the means C.

'lfilhe loop portion extends transversely over .the hand plate so that it gripsin the region of the wrist :or just behind the point where the thumb joins the hand :so that it occurs at a point adjacent the widest part of the hand and when tightened effectively prevents slippage of the hand from the plate. In the form of the invention shown in the drawings the strap is guided by "guide brackets l5 projecting [from opposite edge portions of the hand plate at or close to the point where the wide portion 25 of the plate joins the narrow rear portion 2] thereof. The brackets 15 may be simple projections having openings 16 that slidably pass the strap. The side portions ll of the strap extend forward from the brackets l5 at the underside of the plate to Fthefforward end of the plate where they are engaged by guide brackets ll. The guide brack- -:ets' 11,, as shown in the drawings, may be downweirdly turned changes at the forward endsof the plate sections, which flanges have openings 18 .slidablygpassing the strap. The side portions 1! of the strap extend forward from the hand plate and connect together or to a fastener 82 so that the fastener is connected "to the hand plate 'by meansof theside portions H of the strap.

vThe tensioning or traction means C that I have providedc'onnects to the strap portions H which .I have shown connected together and carrying .9, :suitable hook or fastener 32 which facilitates their connection to the means C. The means C invo'lves, generally, a 'blockand tackle mechanism which :I have shown as including a main "blockfiR and a traveling block S. The traveling block in the case shown involves spaced sheave plates 90 between which I mount sheaves 9i and one of the plates 9% has an extension "-92 which may be provided with a ring 93 to receive the hook 82 or the strap extension itself, as the case maybe.

Themain blockR involves a'plurality of sheave plates 94 between which sheaves 95 are arranged and :one of the plates has an inner extension 96 to which one end 9 of an operating line L is attached. The plate having extension 96 has an outer extension 98 that may be provided with a, ring 99 or the like to facilitate connection to an anchoring line or tie I as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The operating line .L extends from the point where it is anchored to the main block R. as above described over a pulley or traveling block and from that point it is suitably run back and forth over or between the pulleys of the two blocks so that it has an extending or projecting end I ti that can begripped for operation. A lock means vis provided in the mechanism just described so that when the line has been operated to draw the blocks toward each lother the desired tension can be maintained fat the part to be set. The lock means that I have shown involves a fixed abutment pin I03 in the main block R and a lock cam I04 on a pivot pin M5 to be operated by a handle I06 so that it can be turned into gripping engagement with the line L in the manner that will be apparent from an examination of Figs. 13 and 14 of the drawings.

In using the apparatus that I have provided the anchor element A is preferably employed to hold or retain the upper arm or arm proper and it is preferably applied to this part as close as possible to the elbow in :a manner suchas is shown !in the drawings. The "retaining means 2| is loosened .or released "and the strap 23 is manipulated so that the loop portion "I0 is large enough to allow the hand vto be freely passed forward over the plate to the desired position, the plate :being adjusted to the desired width.- If .it is desired to widen the plateit is :merely necessary to pull the sections X and Y apart, whereas if it is desired to make the plate narrower this can be done when'the lever -55 operated, as above described. With the hand on the hand plate in the 'manner illustrated in the drawings and with the :loop ll] of the :strap 23 engaged over the hand adjacent the wrist or immediately "behind the side portion of the hand and the means 21 Imade .tight to retain the fingers or forward portion of the hand tight on the plate, tension can be applied to the strap 23.

When tension or traction is applied to the strap 23, as for instance through the hook .82, or through the means C, the loop 10 is drawn tight over the hand keeping the wrist portion tight against the plate and the strap orretaining means 2| continues to hold the finger or forward portion of the hand tight on the plate. If the strain or tension is applied in the proper direction, "for instance in a direction such as is indicated by the arrow in Fig. l, the forearm, or parts in the region thereof, is tensioned while the hand is held flat and in a comfortable position, and there is no binding action to interfere with proper circulation to the hand.

It will be apparent that 'by employing the tensioning means C that I have provided the opera tor can very easily manipulate the available or free end ll of the line L 'so that the blocks R and S are moved together with substantial force. In fact, the operator has a very marked me-' chanical advantage so that it is a very simple matter to obtain a high degree of tension. It is significant that substantial tension or force of the kind desired can be obtained easily as 'it makes it possible to use the apparatus without tugging or twisting or putting undue strains on the limb being manipulated, and likewise it applies all of the tension in the desired direction.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 to '12, inclusive, the hand plate instead of being adjustable as I have described above, is a solid or rigid plate 2% preferably shaped and proportioned substantially as shown in'the drawings. In this form of theinvention'the retaining means 2P may be substantially the same as the retainin means above described. In detail the retaining'means 2! involves two strap sections 60 and 6V the ends of which are made fast to anchors 63 slidably carried by the plate '28". The anchors have stems 63 that slide 'in slots Et extending transversely of the plate Ill -and heads 63 are provided .on the stems to retain the anchors in'p'lace on the plate. Aibuckle J52 joins the strap sections thesameas'in the form of the invention first described. Through the construction that I have just described the retaining means is simple and yet will accommodate hands of various sizes or widths since the anchors which hold the strap sections can be moved in and out in the slots 63 to the desired positions.

In the form of the invention that I am now describing the strap 123 instead of having two divided parts projecting to connect with the means C has a single connecting part or lead from which side portions-H branch to diverge beneath the plate 20c and then extend up and Join together above the plate to form a loop portion 10 The portions of the strap that extend across the bottom of the plate and then up and across to the top of the plate to form the loop are not carried by brackets as in the case of the invention first described, but in guide slots 16 which correspond, generally, to the openings 16 in the brackets above described. The slots or openings 16* are formed or defined by guide bars 76 which cooperate with the plate and are secured thereto by posts 16 so that they are spaced somewhat belowthe plate and at a suitable angle relative thereto and act with the plate in effectively guiding the strap. In this form of the invention the lead 80 beneath the plate is guided relative to the plate by a cross-bar 8t! mounted a suitable distance below the plate by means of suitable posts 89 In carrying out the form of the invention shown in Figs. '7 to 12, inclusive, it is desirable to form the parts that I have above described so that the slots 16*- are not parallel or transverse of the plate but are angularly related, as shown in the drawings, and it is preferred to make them considerably longer than the strap is wide in order to allow for suitable adjustment in the width of the looped portion 70* of the strap.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the form of the invention that I have shown in Figs. '7 to 12, inclusive, can be used with the operating means C as I have above described, it being apparent how the extension 80 of the strap in the form of the invention last described may be connected to the means C in the same manner as the strap extension in the form of the invention first described.

From the foregoing description it will be readily understood how I have provided a structure that can be easily and quickly applied and that the construction is such that no great skill or experience is necessary for its proper use.

,Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to. myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled 'in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described including, an anchor applicable to the upper arm of a person, and a grip applicable to the hand of the person, the anchor including a bearing plate into which the forward side of the upper arm bears and a strap carrying the plate, and the grip including a hand plate supporting the hand in a fiat position parallel with the forearm, a single strap carryin the plate and having a head portion projecting therefrom and having a portion engageable over the hand to hold it to the plate, and means retaining the hand on the plate.

2. An anchor device of the character described including a rigid bearing plate U-shaped to have a curved part to support the forward side of an upper arm and having spaced rearwardly extending side parts, and a strap carrying the plate having side parts attached to the side parts of the plate and extending rearwardly from the side parts of the plate.

3. A grip of the character described including a hand plate, and a strap engaged with the plate having a loop portion extending over the rear portion of the plate and side parts extending forward from the loop portion under the plate the strap having a lead portion projecting from the forward end of the plate. v

4. A grip of the character described includinga hand plate, and a strap engaged with the plate having a loop portion extending over the rear portion of the plate, the strap extending forward from the loop portion under the plate and having a lead portion projecting from the forward end of the plate, the plate having guides at its edges from which the loop portion extends and at its forward end portion where the lead portion of the strap projects from the plate.

5. A grip of the character described including a substantially flat plate to be engaged by the palm and fingers of a hand, and a strap engaged with the plate having a hand engaging loop portion extending over the rear portion of the plate and extending forward from the loop portion under the plate to project from the forward end of the plate, the plate including two overlapping longitudinal sections movable relative .to each other to vary the width of the plate.

6. A grip of the character described including a hand plate, and a strap engaged with the plate having a loop portion extending over the rear portion of the plate and extending forward from the loop portion under the plate to project from the forward end of the plate, the plate including two longitudinal sections movable relative to each other to vary the width of. the plate, means locking the sections against relative movement, and cam means operable to release the locking means.

RAFE C. CHAFFIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNI'IED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,100,483 Houghton June 16, 1914' 1,216,434 Geiger Feb. 20, 1917 1,708,757 Freileweh Apr. 9, 1929 2,243,294 Stearns May 27, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 638,664 Germany Oct. 29, 1936 

